With so many options to choose from, buying travel insurance can feel overwhelming. Luckily, a local insurance professional is there to help ensure that you choose the right plan for your travel needs.
But what questions should you be asking? We’ve worked with our team of Account Managers—TuGo’s experts who train insurance professionals to sell our travel insurance products—to identify 7 essential travel insurance questions to ask your insurance broker, financial advisor or travel agent to help you have an informed buying experience.
1. Do you offer coverage for COVID-19?
In today’s travel world, this is probably your most important question. Depending on your policy and insurance provider, you should have peace of mind knowing that your travel insurance can cover you for COVID-19.
Our Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance provides coverage if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to your medical condition related to COVID-19. However, if you need to cancel your trip because you lost your job or your flight’s cancelled due to COVID-19, you won’t be covered.
2. Is my family covered under my policy?
Not all policies are created equal. It’s important to know if your policy only covers you or your family too. For instance, if you choose to go with a credit card, it may only cover you as the policyholder—not your travel companion or entire family.
For the most flexibility, consider TuGo. You can buy coverage for just you, you and a travel companion or for your whole family. You can even choose a Family & Friends plan to cover you and one other adult, 59 years or younger, travelling with up to 6 children*. Learn more about TuGo’s Family & Friends plan.
3. Is my pre-existing medical condition going to be covered?
Depending on the plan you purchase, your policy may/may not provide coverage for a pre-existing medical condition. Ask your broker to review your policy with you to see how it defines a pre-existing medical condition and whether coverage can apply to your personal medical situation.
With TuGo, there are three factors that can affect whether or not you’ll have travel insurance coverage for pre-existing medical conditions: age, trip length and stability. Read “Travel Insurance & Pre-existing Medical Condition Stability” for details.
Also keep in mind that if you’re 60+ and required to complete a Medical Questionnaire, your answers to the Medical Questionnaire determines your premium, not your coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. Read “TuGo’s Traveller Medical Questionnaire: FAQs for Senior Travellers” for more information.
4. Are sports or other high-risk activities covered?
Some travellers like to take active vacations when “letting loose”. This can mean trying riskier activities; from skiing, to parasailing, to ziplining and beyond.
TuGo gets that—which is why our Emergency Medical Insurance offers coverage for many of the sports or activities you love to do while away. That said, if you’re a more daring traveller, we’ve also got you covered with our Sports & Activities Coverage add-on for scuba diving, backcountry skiing/snowboarding and more!
5. Is there coverage for delays and interruptions?
With airport delays and interruptions becoming more common, it’s important to ensure that you’re covered for the unexpected. One important thing to understand about travel insurance is there are two types: emergency medical and non-medical. If you need to cancel your trip before your scheduled departure, or your trip is interrupted while you’re already on vacation, you’ll need to have trip cancellation & trip interruption insurance, not just emergency medical insurance.
With covered risks including medical conditions related to COVID-19, quarantining, pregnancy, job loss, or a death in the family, TuGo’s Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption Insurance can protect the financial investment you’ve made on your trip.
6. What happens if I need to make a claim?
If you experience an accident or illness abroad and have to use your travel insurance, you might be dreading the process. Each provider will have their own process, so it’s important to understand the basics before making your purchase decision.
With TuGo, we have 5 steps for “How to Make Your Travel Insurance Claim Go Smoother”. The key is to keep all of your bills and receipts; they are essential to helping determine if we need to reimburse you or your medical provider, and can also be used as proof of your travel dates, when opening a claim with Claims at TuGo.
7. Is the rate competitive?
There is a reason this is the last of the top 7 questions. There is no doubt rates need to be competitive, but it’s sort of like a parachute. Do you really want to jump out of an airplane with the “cheapest” parachute? Travel insurance is similar. You don’t want to answer the questions above, after an emergency. You also may not want to put your medical or even your financial well-being at risk by choosing the “lowest priced” policy. After all, there is a reason they say, “You get what you pay for“.
Hopefully, this post has helped you feel confident that you’re asking your broker, agent or financial advisor the right questions for your specific travel needs. If you’d like to take an even deeper dive into travel insurance check out The Complete Guide to Buying Travel Insurance. In it, you’ll find a handy cheat sheet and detailed information about TuGo’s most popular coverages.
Happy travels,
Angie
*Applies to unmarried children who are dependent on a parent or guardian up to age 21, if they live with the parent/guardians, or up to and including age 25 if fulltime students attending an educational institution. No age limit applies for children with cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities.
